Electric signal system for hospitals.



M. O. BURT.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR HOSPITALS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3,1912.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

Attorneys Witnesses T G FICE.

MAURICE OWEN BURT, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR HOSPITALS.

Application filed February 3, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MAURICE OWEN BURT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Colorado Springs, in the county of El raso and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Electric Signal System for Hospitals, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in electric signal systems for hospitals, the primary object of the present invention being the provision of a signaling system requiring a very low voltage current to actuate the desired signals throughout the hall to indicate the location of the call, a silent signal such as a lamp, or other visual indicator connected in parallel, a visual and audible signal being simultaneously operated at a distant point, preferably in the attendants room, whereby any one of the patients within the hospital may signal for assistance without the other patients being disturbed, and further by not being disturbed themselves by the displaying of signals within the room of the patient calling.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a signaling system for this purpose which derives its power from the main electric source, such as the lighting circuit within the building, the same being taken from a transformer or resistance so as to produce an exceedingly low voltage circuit in the signaling circuit, in combination with a battery circuit, that may be used as an auxiliary in case of a breakage in or the non-working of the main circuit.

Vfith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of illvention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawingsFigure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a complete system, heavy lines indicating the flow of current when the system is being operated from one of the rooms of a patient. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing in heavy lines the battery current or auxiliary circuit when closed through the same room of the patient. Figs. 3 and 4 are Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915. Serial No. 675,251.

detail views of the used for operating circuits.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals l and 6 designate the main circuit lines or conductors which receive their current from the transformer T, or a resistance, which will either transform an alternating current of high voltage through the transformer into a low voltage current in the conductors 1 and 2, or offer such resistance to the high voltage direct current when the resistance is used in lieu of the transformenso as to convey a low voltage current to the conductors .1 and 2. The use of a low voltage current for producing the desired signaling effect, renders the installation of the pres ent system very easy and economical, for the reason that it does not have to be protected in such a manner as should the high voltage current if taken direct from the main conductors of lighting or power circuit.

Referring to the drawings, the letters A, B, C and D designate the rooms of the hospitals in which are the various patients, while E designates the attendants or nurses main room.

is clearly shown in Fig. 1, presupposing that the patient in room A desires the attention or the service of an attendant, the switch S is manipulated so as to bridge from the conductor 10 to the conductor 5, this conductor 5 containing a light or visual indicator 4 which is disposed exteriorly of the room in the hallway of the hospital, and in ready view so that the nurse may locate the light or signal at any point in such hallway, the conductor 3 being connected to the main conductors 2 and 1 so that the current will flow from the transformer through main conductors l and 2, branch conductor 5, actuating the visual signal 14: and the audible signal or bell 15, through the branches 1i. 1a and 15 and switch point 16, and thence through the conductor 10, conductor 9, the switch 8, the conductor 6, to the transformer T. Thus simultaneously with the movement of the switch S, the light or visual signal t in the hallway of the hospital is energized, and simultaneously therewith, the bell 1.5 and light 14 in the nurses or attendants room E will be energized. A light 1.4 is preferably employed, but two may be used, so that should either one burn preferred form of switch or closing the signaling connects with the conductor out there will always be a visual indicator in said circuit, as it is not likely that two would burn out simultaneously.

In order to visually indicate in the at tendants room E 7 that the circuit is in operable condition, the two branch conductors 17 and 17 are connected to the mains 1 and 6 and have connected therein an indicating or pilot lamp 18, which when burning or lighted will indicate that the current is flowing properly in the conductors 1 and 6 so that the system may be operated properly when the switches S are manipulated in their respective rooms by the patient.

Should the main conductor or the current ledthrough the transformer or resistance T fail, the operator or attendant in room E willbe notified immediately by the extin guishment of the pilot light or lamp 18, so that the battery circuit may be thrown in to permitfthe "operation o'f'the respective signals 14 and 15through the batteries B. In order to produce 1 an operable battery system, the conductor 19, leads from one side of'the'battery B, to the switch point 20, which being bridgedby the switch 8, 7 9, and'through the branches 10, brings in all of the various switches S of the patients rooms. As illustratedin Fig. 2, the conductors 5 and 15, 14: and 2, are energized to include the bell '15 and light 1 1, finally reaching the other side of the battery through the conductors 1 and 1?. As no pilot light is needed, the light 18 is thus cut out when the battery circuit is employed. I

In order to illustrate clearly the operationof the battery circuits reference should be had to Fig. 2, wherein the heavy lines indicate'the fiow tient in room A has signaled the attendant.

By placing the lamp 14c and bell 15 in the conductor 14,'inste'ad of in the conductor 2, it will bernoted that should the lamp burn out or the bell( 15,become inoperative, that the circuit including the signal lamps 4 will not be interfered with so in case a nurse or attendant should see a light in the hall, the signals 14: been Vactuated,.they can at a glance know that apatient'is calling. If, however, on the'contrary, the lamp 14: and the bell 15 were fixed in the conductor 2, the burning. outof the lamp would prevent the operation of the system. I

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, it is evident that a lowv voltage slgnaling system installed according to the present invention drawings, will provide and diagrams in the a silent .means for actuating visual signals throughout the hallways or other desired 0911a: 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents eacnQby addressing-the fl ommissivoner :of Patents,

. hospital.

of current when the pa-.'

from one-sideof and bell 15 not having places in hospitals, not be disturbed the only audible signal being mounted or disposed in the attendants room at some distant pointand in such a manner as not to disturb the patients in the Although the system has been described sothat the patients will.

as being used entirely in hospitals, it is evi-:

dent that the same may be used in other places where a'system containing disposed adjacent to the calling party is employed in combination with a distant signal to indicatethatthe party is calling.

a signal VV-hileherei'n is described the invention in detail and is illustrated a bodying' various features, times be usedto advantage, itis not the desire norintention of claimant to be limited to the particular arrangementshown, or to an'arra'ngement embodying the various auxiliary features, eXcept as particularly pointed out inthe appended claim.

"What ,is' claimed is 1 An electric {signal system for hospitals, comprising a 1 generator circuit, ,a transformerito reduce the voltage of thegenerator circuit :for the :signal system, a conduc tor led from one side of the transformer and combination em- 'whlch may at having .two branches, an audible and visual signal connected to one branch, a plurality of three point switches located at distant points, two branch conductors from. each switch connected to the respective two branches of the conductor led from the A transformer, a signal switch branches,

a return conductor having branches leading from the thirdpoint of all switches, a conductor leading from the other terminal 'of the transformer, a switch. capableo'fswinging connected permanently to the return conductor and; for connecting the last conductor and {the transformerin the system, last conductor to the'first conductor to indi cate the condition of the transformer cira short conductor leadingcuit, a battery,

thebattery to the first conductor,.and:another conductor leading from the other side ;o f the battery and having a switch point upon the opposite side switch to the-transformer conductor, whereby'either the transformer or battery by the manipulationof the last named switch may beconnectedin the system.

a, pilotlampbridged from the:

lamp. in one .of the of the In testimony that "I claim the foregoing as myown, [have hereto afiixed my signature in'the presence of two witnesses.

-MAU IGE OWEN BURT,

Witnesses: V V

D. A. BARNETT,

H. Ross.

Washington, D. 0." 

